Ericsson presents consumer trends for 2014

Ericsson ConsumerLab has identified some of the most important consumer trends for 2014 and beyond.

 For more than 15 years, the ConsumerLab had conducted researches to explore people’s values, behaviours and ways of using Information and Communications Technology products and services.

The global research programme, the firm said in a statement, was based on annual interviews with over 100,000 individuals in more than 40 countries and 15 mega cities.

The Head of Research at ConsumerLab, Mr. Michael Björn, said, “The most important trend we see is the mass demand for apps and services across all industries and societal sectors – which has the potential to fundamentally change everyday life.

“Apps change society. The fast global uptake of smartphones has completely changed the way we communicate and use the Internet. Now, we enter a new phase of rapidly-diversifying smartphone use – and people are looking for apps across all sectors of society.

“This includes everything from shopping and day care to communication with authorities and transportation. Apps are becoming more important than what phone you use.

“Your body is the new password. Sites are demanding longer passwords with a mixture of numbers, letters and symbols – almost impossible to remember. This is leading to a growing interest in biometric alternatives.”

The research found that 52 per cent of smartphone users want to use their fingerprints instead of passwords and 48 per cent were interested in using eye-recognition to unlock their screen.

A total of 74 per cent, it added, believed that biometric smartphones would become the mainstream during 2014.

It said blood pressure, pulse and steps were just some examples of how “we want to measure ourselves with mobile devices, using personally-generated data. You only need to start an app to track your activities and get to know yourself better.”

 A total of 40 per cent of smartphone users, the research added, want their phone to log all of their physical activities and 56 per cent would like to monitor their blood pressure and pulse using a ring.

Internet experience, the firm said, had been falling behind voice; as smartphone users were realising that the signal bars on their phone no longer provide reliable guidance, since a signal that is adequate for a voice call may not be good enough for Internet services.